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Annual Children’s Rally 2009
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Hundreds of children, young people and elders led by the respective priests of the various parishes of the Jaffna Diocese (CSI) and headed by Bishop Daniel Thiagarajah marched from the Maruthanamadam Junction to the Uduvil Girls College launching the annual Children’s Rally 26 Sep 2009. It turned out to be a momentous day with competitions, exhibitions, demonstrations and show of spontaneous community support apart from the usual features of the Children’s Rally, an important date in the yearly calendar of the Jaffna Diocese.
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| Prior to the rally, essay and art competitions were also held in preparation for it and winners were awarded prizes at the rally. The rally’s call for Re-build Hope sermon was preached by young leader Shavindra Vigna Raja and this will be published in our next newsletter. Two overseas visitors whose organizations have supported us in partnership with the diocese for twenty years Natalie Peyer and Damaris Luthi from Switzerland were unable to visit the north although they participated in the JDCSI Youth Camp in Lindula and also visited our project among the gypsy community in the east. |
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| Dr Miss Chelvi Selliah, the Acting Principal of Uduvil Girls College who came out of her well-earned retirement to meet a particular need in the community was the chief guest of the rally celebrations. |
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| The diocese was greatly touched by the lunch cooked and served by the JDCSI Self-Help Women’s Group who also conducted an organic farming products exhibition of traditional products of the region from mangoes to odiyal, an unbelievable variety of items about which our people must be proud especially of the ancient wisdom of environmentally friendly farming systems and healthy food habits. This will be among the priorities of the rural social action of the diocese. |
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| Among the day’s events were the Mathuram Kulendran Vritham Competition for individuals and Vethanayagam Sastriar’s group singing of his compositions. Three groups Under 13, 16 and 19 participated in the Bible Quiz and the best four from each group were selected for The Super Fours Bishop Daniel Thiagarajah Cup. The newly formed Thirunelvely parish won the Under 16 Bible Quiz, Vaddukoddai and Thevakiramam won the Under 19 and Under 13 Bible Quiz respectively |
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The Group Singing Competition was divided into three groups A, B and C and they were won by Pandatheruppu, Moolai and Gandhiji Gramam in West Kokuvil respectively.
In a show of gesture to the community the 513 Brigade provided buns and tea at breakfast time to all the participants. An underlying feature of the entire day was the total participation of everyone in every feature of the rally from worship to competitions, exhibitions and the fellowship that prevailed among them the whole day led by Bishop Danny Thiagarajah who was present with his people, young and old throughout the day. |
